Friday, September 28, 2007

East Hampton Kitchen
















Objective:
Create an updated yet traditional kitchen


Design Features:


  • Traditional Shaker painted wood
    glass-fronted cabinets


  • Hawaiian green polished marble
    counter and bar


  • Bar area with pass-through to
    dining area







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Montauk Kitchen - Contemporary Look













Objective:
Create an updated contemporary kitchen


Design Features:


  • Cherry cabinets with acid glass fronts

  • Stainless steel subway tile
    backsplash in geometric pattern


  • Stainless steel appliances and
    hardware


  • Black Absolut flamed counter





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Kitchen Tables—the Changing Face Of Modern Home Décor


Traditional kitchen tables have always been at the center of all family activities and were considered the heart of home décor for generations. Today, however, furniture is undergoing a transformation just like the home and the workplace. Lavish kitchen tables that can accompany large gatherings used to be the standard in most homes but now they may not be appropriate for a society that is always "on the go". Fewer and fewer of us can truly sit down to a good meal every night and eat together as a family. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to have grand dining room tables that can seat large numbers of people.

Just as we are asked to "multi-task", so too must our furnishings be able to adapt to multiple functions. In addition to this added functionality, modern kitchen tables must be able to adapt to the changing décor of contemporary homes. It is no longer a given that homeowners will need or even want the traditional kitchen table made from wood and accentuated with matching chairs. Nowadays, many homes are fashioned in the contemporary style with clean lines and modern materials meaning that the tables must complement the tastes in design.

The Oregano dining table is perfect for the contemporary or casual home and lifestyle. Featuring a metal frame with curved legs bound by a triple ring center support, this kitchen table is right at home in contemporary settings. It is large enough to accommodate formal dining while small enough to use outdoors or for other purposes.

However, some of us still like the more traditional tables fashioned from wood but don't want a piece of furniture that will require a moving crew if you should want to use it in another room. Therefore, with a 40" diameter and crafted from quality hardwoods, the Dominique is a perfect compromise between the traditional aesthetics and modern functionality.

Without question, contemporary kitchen tables are undergoing a transformation in both design and function. While many homeowners are repurposing the traditional dining room and using it as a home office or spare bedroom, this has forced the kitchen table back into the cooking area. Thus, tables must be smaller and easy to relocate if necessary. Online retailers have a large selection of beautiful kitchen tables at great prices that can accommodate the needs of the modern home while still providing the perfect setting for a well-deserved and seemingly rare family meal!




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Home Lighting: An Essential In Home Decor


Many people spare no expense when it comes to filling their home with expensive furnishings, draperies, carpeting and artwork. They know that creating a comfortable, stylish home is an effort to be truly proud of and take their job seriously no matter whether they are decorating the interior or exterior spaces of their home. Sadly, though, all of their hard work often goes unnoticed or unappreciated by most if they fail to pay attention to the most important element of home décor: home lighting.

Choosing the proper home lighting is perhaps one of the most important facets of decorating your home and creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. With the right home lighting you can make a poorly decorated room look extravagant and make large, cold spaces seem warm and cozy. There is just no end to what you can accomplish with the proper home lighting. That is why it is so important to invest in good quality lamps for your home's interior spaces.

When decorating a room it takes several different types of home lighting to truly complete the look. In the ideal room, general home lighting, task home lighting and accent home lighting work in harmony to create an overall effect that is comfortable and engaging. For these reasons, serious thought needs to be given to the home home lighting design process, especially when it comes to lamps, which are usually classified as task home lighting. While lamps can be decorative and add an element of style to the room, they also need to be practical and able to handle the majority of your home lighting issues.

There are numerous different types of quality lamps that you can purchase for your home. Which ones you choose will depend largely on your existing décor, home lighting needs and the overall home lighting affect you wish to create. The types of lamps include floor lamps, table lamps, desk lamps and buffet lamps.

In addition to considering which types of lamps to incorporate into your décor, you should also consider and compare manufacturers according to quality, style and price. Two premier lamp manufacturers that you might wish to consider are Uttermost and Feiss. Each of these top-name manufacturers deliver decorative lamps of superior quality and style. In their inventory you can find lamps to compliment any décor no matter whether it is Formal, Country, Contemporary or Eclectic.

After deciding which lamps are suited to your particular tastes, budget and existing décor, you should carefully consider the placement of your lamps and which types of lamps to include in your interior spaces. Choose lamps that work with your lifestyle and the way you live in your home. For example: use desk lamps for delicate tasks such as a hobby and table lamps for more general tasks such as reading and place them where you are most likely to engage in these activities.

Do not make the same mistake that many do and underestimate the importance of purchasing quality lamps and home lighting fixtures for your home's interior. You will see that it is only after all of your home's design elements come together, that a truly beautiful and comfortable home is created.




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How To Make An Ideal Tropical Home Decor?


Tropical home décor could be one of the most attractive yet relaxing home decors you can find. Its popularity is mainly due to the connotations of sand, vacation and the like which the décor brings and the consequent soothing environment that relaxes people. With the modern-day stressful life, this could be an excellent way to bring tranquility back to our lives.

Tropical home décor is suitable almost for any room in the house including living rooms, family rooms, lanai or the balcony. However the kids' room may not be suitable, primarily because of the characteristic motif.

The typical tropical home décor motif usually has swaying palms, banana trees, colorful animal or bird prints, leather, upholstered rattan, grass cloth and others which reminds you of the luscious tropics.

The common colors used for tropical home décor are earthy tan, beige, ivory, camel, blues and greens from the darkest to the moss to avocado. Light golden and subtle shades highlighted with black or some deep brown somewhere.

The horizontal lines, usually present in tropical home décor suggests repose are relaxation. And taller elements like trees, plants etc remind you of an island with natural beauty.

Tropical home décor goes best with furniture made from natural elements like bamboo or rattans. These are normally imported from tropical countries like Philippines or any other country in South Asia. These are known for its durability and natural comfort.

The fabrics chosen for a tropical home décor are never stiff and hard. On the contrary they are soft and supple. Ottomans, pillows and other accessories normally will have leafy or jungle designs.

Wood floors go best with tropical home décor. That also light color wood. Chairs and tables are of slightly darker shade. Tiles and stones also give good accent to tropical home décor. Lampshades to be made from cloth which complements the overall appeal.

A tropical home décor can not be complete with out designs and images of the wild. Animal hides could be hung on the wall instead of the usual artwork pictures.

Large plants position in the corner and lighted give a lot of impact to tropical home décor. Accessories are kept to the minimum. A variety of tropical prints strewn about the house is what should be the focal point in the house.

To avoid the home looking too cluttered, small accessories are either done away with or kept to the minimum. Large scale accessories are thought to be sufficient.

Even the window should be with tropics in mind. Bamboo blinds, panels from plantation and matchsticks give a breezy, sunny and light look.

Materials and fabrics used for a tropical home décor s usually light and made from natural fibers. Consequently, baskets, rattan, grass clot, wicker chairs, wall coverings, folding screens and cornice boards are used abundantly.

The artwork for tropical home décor must follow a tropical theme consistently. Use of bold colors like yellow, ivory browns and greens is a must.

Tableware made from stone looks best in a tropical home décor. Table cloth and napkins are made from fabrics that is loosely woven. Sturdy glass ware complement the tropical look.




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Learning About Home Decor


Home decor creation is not as difficult as it seems. Once you learn the art of choosing and see the results, you will learn how easy it is. Take the time to learn rather than let someone else do it for you.

For many people, the creation of a home decor scheme is challenging as well as confusing. Of course, this includes almost everyone who lives in a home. Put simply, home decor includes the items as well as the decorating style of your home. One of the most essential parts of what makes a place home rather than just a place to stay is home decor. It is always a working in progress that changes as your lifestyle and family changes.

How to Shop for Home Decor

The concept of shopping for home decor can be likened to choosing accessories or footwear to coordinate with a new outfit, and like any kind of shopping, there are going to be those who enjoy it and those who would prefer to be doing something else. Those who enjoy shopping and selecting home decor either find it relaxing or are excited over the idea of finding great deals on decorative and functional home decor items.

How to Decorate Your Home

Decorating a home is not as difficult as some people make it seem. Adding some new accent pieces or accessories may be all you need to do in order to create a more up to date appearance. Adding some new candles, candleholders, lighting accessories, towels, window treatments, pillows and slipcovers are some simplistic and inexpensive updates that will make a huge impact on your home's decor.

Using decorative pillows is an easy and inexpensive way to add some color to your room décor. It doesn't matter if your theme is casual décor or something more elegant, accent pillows provide your room with a look that ranges from elegant to casual and cozy. Instead of buying new pillows, you can create a new look by recovering existing ones with new fabric. Another benefit to recovering pillows you already have is that it gives you an option in case you can't find the exact look you want among the pillows that are available in the stores whereas to are more likely to find it among the fabric selections in fabric stores.

You can also use slipcovers to update and change the color scheme of furniture that you already have. They are available in many different colors and fabrics, so finding the right look is quite easy. When you combine this with new throw pillows and some nice accent pieces, your home will boast of a new and fresh look.

Should You Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional?

Many people have the opinion that home décor is a task that professionals can handle better, but it is not as difficult as it first appears and speaks aloud of the home's residents. Take small steps and add a few items at a time, thus allowing your home to reflect the unique personality of you and your family. When you make a few changes and achieve




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3 Steps To Arranging Home Décor Accessories

One of the biggest home decorating dilemmas is how to arrange your accessories, whether it be a bookcase, shelf, or tabletop. Here is a three step system that will transform your boring or cluttered spaces into charming vignettes!

Harmony and Contrast

When arranging a space with accessories, one has to keep in mind that the most important thing to avoid here is boredom! This has a lot less to do with the objects you choose than how you choose to display them. To keep an arrangement from putting the neighbors down for their afternoon nap, remember to keep a balance of harmony (things that feel like they go together, like similar colors or styles) and contrast (things that spice things up by being different…smooth against texture, round against straight line, et…) You want a bit of both in your arrangement. Perhaps you could create harmony by repeating a square shape or the color purple, and then add contrast by sitting a smooth candlestick next to a rough basket.

Scale and Shape

Make sure that the items you are using fit into their new homes scale…you don't want one tiny paperweight on a large kitchen table, and you want to steer clear of using a huge ceiling high arrangement of flowers on a tiny end table. Most people tend to use things that are too small for their surroundings however. If you have small accessories you would like to display, but need to give them more oomph in the arrangement, try grouping them on a plate or a fabric covered box. You can also give them height by perching them atop stacked books or baskets.

Layer and Soften

Once you've chosen your objects for the space following the design principles above, now it's time to layer and soften. Start with a larger, taller piece slightly off center…this will be the defining piece in your arrangement. Now work to the outer edges in layers…Add a taller background layer, a middle sized medium height layer, and your tiniest objects in the front. Keep the eye moving up and down as it purveys the arrangement from left to right for interest. Add some fabric or twisted ribbon to soften the edges of the shelf or table, to bring in color, and to highlight certain objects.

Above all, keep trying new combinations of items until you find an arrangement that works for you. Use things in unusual ways. Tuck flowers or a live plant into an arrangement that seems too static. Even professional designers will occasionally be surprised by trying things in a new way! And remember, if your arrangement still looks cluttered and lost, chances are you are trying to display too much. Develop a prop box or closet where you can keep some of your treasures, and switch them our a couple of times a year for a fresh new look without spending a dime! For an example photo of accessory arrangement, visit this page on our website at http://www.thebudgetdecorator.com/arrange_accessory.html

Interior Decorating And Home Decor Needs


If you have had a home for a while, it becomes dull after a while. This can be fixed with a little paint and elbow grease. This interior decorating guide contains tips and tricks that can tap the potential of any room and bring it to life. You will find painting styles and colors, and decorating techniques.

The first thought should be the scale of work, if the remodeling project involves more than cosmetic fixture replacements or surface interior decorating, it may be time to call in an plumber to assess you in your plumbing and pipe replacement. Homeowner should weigh the pros and cons of taking on an entire bathroom project alone. Admitting your strengths and weaknesses is the key to successfully completing any project on time and under budget.

Your bathrooms represent the greatest and fastest return on your remodeling investment. More than 80 percent of your bathroom remodeling expenses can be recouped within a year of resale. Not every room in the house offers such a return. Amazingly, kitchens are sixth on the list with just over 60 percent of the costs returned. Only bathroom additions beat bathroom remodeling with returns over 90 percent.

Always hang pictures at eye level. Hanging them at eye level for the average person's height will enable them to be enjoyed and also make them work better with the furnishings, such as tables and chairs. Use accessories in odd-numbered groups. It's just a matter of poise. Such as three or five works better than even numbered groupings of four or five. Use wall-covering borders. You may want to choose neutral furnishings that can go with any interior-decorating scheme.

Look for coordinating products. Many of today's wall covering sample books feature a whole range of coordinating home-style products, such as borders, fabrics, comforters, pillow shams, place mats, table rounds, and shower curtains. Selecting a specific collection that features these products, you can put together a whole unified interior decorating package for a comparatively low cost.

Your focal point can be almost anything - a fireplace, a painting, and an entertainment center. By having a focal point, you can beautify and emphasis on the focal point and give your room a sense of constancy. Collect photos of rooms you love. If you're not sure how to recognize your interior decorating style, start collecting photos from catalogs.

When interior decorating your home, don't just go from room to room. Work up a plan for the entire home, counting budget and timetable. As you go along, you can be on the guard for products that work within your plan. Your local design center will be more than happy to help you plan your work and making it become a reality.





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Designing Tips


A house with blank white rooms and windows with pull down shades does not leave you with any cue on how to decorate it. It is you who add the character the personality to your home that serves as an extension of your own self, your family and your culture. It is you who add that personal touch that makes the house your own home, which puts you at ease in an instant and has an intimacy that makes you feel completely relaxed. To make your home cozy, warm and comfortable, you should keep following points in mind:


  • Theme of the room or home can be the guiding factor while decorating it. It is a reflection on your personality, likes, tastes and hobbies and the culture of your family. A chosen theme such as Barbie's Home, Nautical Mile, Star Wars, Period Décor, Nature Lovers and Ethnic, can be the unifying factor for all your furniture, furnishings, accessories, colors of walls and ceilings, windows and doors and even the showcase area to display your collections, arts, crafts and other prized possessions.

  • Eliminate things that don't fit into the theme décor of the room or modify them to suit the overall theme. This can be a good restraint on impulsive shopping, disproportionate planning or unplanned implementation of decoration items.

  • Artifacts that suit your theme can add a special touch to the room décor such as a small wooden ship to go with the nautical theme.

  • All collectors love to display their collections of stamps, coins, dolls or other trinkets in a special creative way. Linear arrangements can be dull so may be grouping them and presenting them in interesting ways such as in glass cupboards will draw more attention to them and to your skill of refinement.

  • Colors of walls, fabrics, furniture, linen, pillows, shelves and curtains and type of furniture, beds, sofas and seating arrangements and even accessories, lamps and vases that you use must also confirm with your room or home décor theme.




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